“Yes, you’re causing the problem,” he answered.
“No, the problem is that any big cats in Khenshu have to be taken directly to the cirque. It’s city law and we all know no one in the Empire is immune to the law,” Adira said.
Amal blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Yes. While the Lion Guild will use the lions, the cirque still handles all big cats brought into the city. They have to be inspected properly by our cat handlers and also blessed by priests. If they’re not inspected or blessed, they’re here illegally and the courts then decide what to do with them. What did the courts decide last time this happened?” Adira turned to Layla.
Layla shrugged. “I recall cutting off a lot of tiger heads. It was a shame.”
“But, not a waste. The meat fed the army for a time. They were all infused with the spirit of tigers,” Ashni said.
The giant’s face drained of color as his mouth fell open. “No, no, no. I have royal permission.”
“Yes, but the law is the law after all,” Ashni said.
“You can’t kill his cats. I gave him permission to show them.” Amal pressed his hands to his chest. Of course, by raising his voice, he called more attention to what was already an unscheduled show.
“Yes, but even if the Empress gave him permission, the law is the law.” Ashni snapped her fingers. Guards came from all directions. “Seize the cats.”
“No, this is my livelihood!” The giant threw his hands up.
“Yes, well, like I keep saying, the law is the law.” Ashni locked eyes with Amal while her guards did as ordered. He frowned, but didn’t try to stop them.
The giant fell to his knees. “Please. Please, don’t do this.” He argued and pled, but his words fell on deaf ears. He was a fool for listening to Amal in the first place.
“This means nothing,” Amal said, giving Ashni a hard look.
“Of course it doesn’t,” Ashni replied. Amal stormed off. It was almost funny to watch. If it wasn’t a day of peace, she’d throw something at his head, just for old time’s sake.
“Yeah, because he lost, again,” Layla said.
Adira sighed and shook her head. “It’s always got to be a pissing contest with him. Now, he’s not only ruining our regular days, but one of the best holidays. And if this was the opening act, I can only wonder what he was discussing with Majeed.”
Layla gave Adira a deadpan look. “Really? You can only wonder? This is Amal we’re talking about and Majeed has always had more ambition than sense.”
“Put it out of your minds for now. He’s always tried to ruin, well, everything. I’m pretty sure he was born ruining something,” Ashni said.
Layla snickered. “Asad’s chance to have his own birthday.”
“It doesn’t matter. We have better things to attend to.” Ashni turned her attention back to Nakia, Saniyah, and Naren. Nakia and Naren watched them, but Saniyah seemed to be quite bored with the matter. Saniyah scanned the Festival, undoubtedly trying to find something else to do. Ashni felt like Saniyah had the right idea.
***
Nakia tensed when Amal arrived on the scene, but wasn’t surprised when the Queen got rid of him with ease. But, for the brief moment he challenged the Queen, Nakia felt there was something more to them than a sibling rivalry. Amal looked at the Queen like she was the enemy. “Is he testing her?”
The General’s woman shook her head. “Don’t worry over him. He plots and schemes, but only makes a fool of himself.”
Nakia didn’t doubt that, but she wished she knew the full story between the siblings. Hell, she wished she knew the full story about everything. Then the Queen was back at her side and Nakia put it out of her mind. Maybe she’d get the full story of the festival.
“Well, that was annoying,” Layla said as she settled in next to her husband. His arm went around her waist and she rested her hand on his.
“It also didn’t solve the issue of what we’re going to do now,” the General said.
Naren brightened. “Wrestling now? Less annoying than Amal.”
“Being boiled in oil is less annoying than Amal,” Ashni said.
“Oh, flower arrangements.” The General’s woman grinned and pulled the General away. The others followed. Naren groaned and tried to stay put, but Layla took his hand and tugged him along.
“Sounds like we’ll be needing more wine,” the Queen said before taking a swig from her wine pouch.
“You can barely walk as it is. But, flower arrangements should mean wine,” Layla agreed.
Nakia didn’t say anything, but she was beginning to think the festival was a big excuse to drink for at least three of the people she was with. More wine was obtained before going to see the flower arrangements. The Queen offered Nakia some of her spirits. Nakia found the drink to be sweet once again, like the wine she drank inside the palace. It wasn’t awful and she accepted the water skin when it was passed a second time.
The flower arrangements were beyond beautiful. There were so many colors, which Nakia supposed many of these people didn’t see since they lived in a barren desert. They were designed like living tapestries or sculptures and so vivid Nakia thought they might move. She reached for a practically dazzling display made to look like a family of deer.
“You can touch it,” the Queen whispered to her. Nakia jumped a little, not expecting the Queen to be so close. Nakia’s stomach fluttered a little and she had to take a breath.
“I…” Nakia wasn’t sure what she should say. She wanted to touch it, but she didn’t want to chance ruining the art.
“Look.” The Queen nodded over to the General and her woman. Her woman ran her fingertips along one of the larger works.
The General ordered a full display, a wall of flowers, for her woman. It was a romantic gesture, but Nakia still felt it was wrong. Women shouldn’t be together like that. The General certainly could give some men back home lessons.
For a moment, Nakia glanced at Naren, wondering if he’d take the hint. But, his wife probably didn’t like flowers. Layla seemed more like a boy than a wife and Naren whined quite a bit for a husband. Nakia looked at the two couples and wondered which marriage was more abnormal.
After the flowers, they saw another show. There was more heckling, and it was worse because this show had actors in it. The actors paused for a moment, but immediately went back to work when they saw it was the Queen and her people.
The show itself was captivating. The actors had colorful costumes, contrasting with the white outfits everyone else wore. She wasn’t sure what was going on, thanks to the language barrier. After being in the palace for a couple of months, she knew some of the Roshan language, but not enough to follow along. She planned to ask, but everyone was too busy complaining. The General’s woman, who would have been the easiest one to ask, was trying to keep the Queen from going on stage.
“Hey, this is a load! My father, the Son of the Great Eagle, would never blink to that shrew,” the Queen called.
“Never? He did. Making the Moon greater than even the Sun,” Layla said, puffing up her chest. Nakia wasn’t sure if her pride came from being close to the Empress or if it had to do with Layla claiming to be darkness and shadows.
The Queen glowered at Layla. “How can my own chosen sibling be a fool?”
“Fool? It’s well known that darkness defeats light every time.” Layla made a fist.
The actors and the audience didn’t react. They probably went through this every festival. The General’s woman sighed and massaged her forehead. “Can we go to one play where this doesn’t happen?”
The General shrugged. “You know Ashni thinks she knows the story of her parents better than anyone else.”
Now, Nakia knew the play was about the Queen’s parents, but that raised other questions. Why would the Queen refer to her mother as ‘that shrew?’ Why was the Queen was so offended by her mother, yet had this amazing festival in her honor?
“Does the Queen dislike her mother?” Nakia wondered alo
ud.
“Don’t let her attitude fool you,” the General said. Nakia wasn’t expecting an answer, but nodded. The General turned to Ashni and yanked her into her seat. “Cut it out. You’re drunk.”
The Queen put her finger in the General’s face. “Being drunk doesn’t change the truth of the matter. It doesn’t make it easier to accept these lies and slander either.”
“May we please just enjoy the tale? I quite like it,” the General’s woman said.
The Queen snorted and folded her arms across her chest. “I’m surrounded,” she grumbled.
“You’re also drunk, making everything you say null and void,” Layla said.
“You’re as drunk as I am,” the Queen replied.
Nakia tried to focus on the show to piece together what was going on and learn more about the Queen’s parents. She found she couldn’t do it, even with the Queen quiet for a moment. Her head swam a little. There was a pleasant buzz in her head.
The Queen offered Nakia more wine and then there was more heckling followed by more wine. Nakia’s head drifted a little more, but she squinted at the stage and concentrated, determined to know what was going on. It seemed there was supposed to be a war and the female character was carried off. The next thing Nakia knew, the characters on stage were married, but there was a physical fight between the two characters. The Queen decided to leave at that moment, even though the play wasn’t over.
“I don’t trust any actor trying to play me as a child,” the Queen said.
Layla sucked her teeth. “Oh, yes, that’s why we’re leaving. You just don’t want to see the Empress put your father in his place.”
The Queen frowned. “No one puts my father in his place. He owns the place. Like I said, I don’t trust any actor trying to play me as a child.”
“You mean, you were a child?” Naren said with a lopsided grin.
“Don’t start with me, boy. You know I’ll bop you.” The Queen shook her fist at him.
“Day of peace,” Layla reminded her.
“Damn day of peace,” the Queen grumbled.
Nakia held in a laugh, but she smiled. She tried to hide the expression behind her hand, but she wasn’t fast enough. The Queen noticed and squinted at her. Nakia found it even harder to hold in her laughter now and snickers escaped her. Her heart fluttered a little and the Queen leaned down, staring at her.
The Queen threw her hands up. “Oh, great, even the damned hellcat is laughing at me now.”
“Laughing with you,” Nakia said to placate the Queen, but her words only caused the Queen to pout.
“At you, with you. It’s all a matter of interpretation,” Layla said.
For the first time, something made sense to Nakia. She wasn’t sure why. Nothing Layla said or did ever made sense. That can’t be a good thing. Nakia’s mind swam a little, but she shook it off.
“I’m surrounded.” The Queen sighed in surrender, but put an arm around Nakia’s waist and pulled her close.
Nakia curled into her shoulder, finding it easier to stay on her feet. She hadn’t realized it was so hard to stand on her own until that point. It felt like the world shifted underneath her and the Queen was the only thing that could keep her up.
They wandered around the festival some more, exploring its vastness. Nakia found herself a little stuck on the change in lighting as they moved from section to section. The lamps glowed blue in some areas and green in others and white in still other places. Maybe this was by design, but she wasn’t sure. Why the hell am I so stuck on the lights? They’re just lights, but they’re so intriguing. Maybe it is the same reason why so many things were suddenly funny.
“Oh! Food.” Naren was off before anyone could stop him.
“I guess we’re getting food,” Layla said.
“Or we could leave him.” The Queen beamed at the idea.
“I think I would like some food, too.” Nakia had not eaten much earlier, thinking about the Festival and they had done a lot of walking tonight.
“Anything you like then.” The Queen motioned around them with a sweep of her hand.
There was no shortage of food. Some was simple and easy to carry. There were grilled meats and vegetables on sticks. There were stews and fruits in bowls. There were also tables set up where people could eat full course meals. Nakia wasn’t hungry enough to sit down and Naren didn’t seem to have that intent either.
“Just a sample,” Nakia said.
“Anything you like, kitten. Besides, we could all use something to eat.”
Nakia allowed the Queen to lead her to a food stand. They all partook of what the Queen assured Nakia was grilled mutton with vegetables on a stick. It was different. It wasn’t like the mutton served in the palace, not as spicy. She was able to savor it. They moved on once everyone had their food.
Nakia wasn’t accustomed to walking while eating, but everyone else seemed to be doing it. The food was designed for mobility since there was so much to do. The Queen and company had so many things they could disrupt while being well fed. Nakia followed along, taking wine as it was offered to her. They moved on to another show and the bad behavior continued.
Nakia was no longer embarrassed by the antics, but found them funny. Something’s wrong with me. It was obvious to Nakia, but no one else seemed to think there was something wrong with her. She couldn’t put her finger on it and stopped caring as she snickered when an actor threw a pillow at the Queen to get her to sit down. The Queen grunted as the pillow smacked her right in the face and Nakia started laughing.
Layla guffawed, holding her stomach. “Wow, his aim is fair and true.” The audience laughed with her.
“We should get that guy a bow,” the General said.
“I’m already an archer during wartimes,” the actor answered.
“And you’re lucky I need archers.” The Queen huffed and folded her arms across her chest. Nakia giggled more, but patted the Queen’s knee. The Queen glanced down and then put her arm around Nakia.
“Come on, start the show already,” the Queen called. The actors went back to the story.
***
Ashni wasn’t sure how they ended up in the garden, but there they were, giggling among the shrubs at a tiny waterfall. It felt good, laughing and being carefree, forgetting any troubles for the moment. Beyond the fact that Ashni was aware they were all dead drunk, which made things funny anyway, they had also witnessed quite the hilarious sight. They watched Amal fall on his back as he tried to climb into his palanquin to continue through the festival. He was the only jerk in one, even though there were many nobles and officials there. Idiot.
“Hey, what’s this?” Nakia asked, falling against Ashni’s side.
For a moment, Ashni lost herself in the feel of Nakia. She breathed in how sweet Nakia smelled. Yes, there is the wonderful scent of wine wafting off of her, but there is also something else that is just Nakia and it smells delicious, had smelled delicious all night. Ashni almost bent down and nuzzled Nakia’s neck, but caught herself as Nakia spoke again.
“Hey, what is this?” Nakia asked, waving food in front of Ashni’s face.
“Oh!” Ashni focused on the fried meat on the skewer, squinting and trying to remember what it was called. “Oh, it’s fried octopus. Loved in the original Roshan tribes.”
“Why are you yelling?” Layla asked. Naren laid on her lap, his face red and his eyes almost closed, but still managing to eat several bites of meat on a skewer.
“She’s eating traditional Roshan food.” Ashni put her arm around Nakia and pressed her close. A smile spread on Ashni’s face and she felt a lightness inside that had nothing to do with the wine.
Nakia’s pale face, flushed and bright red in the white light, twisted. “No. I’m not eating octopus.”
“You’ll eat mice, but not octopus?” No one in the Roshan ate mice, but Ashni knew in Nakia’s culture, wild mice were fine dining.
Nakia frowned at her. “Mice are different than octopus.”
“But
, it’s so good.” Ashni wanted to see Nakia eat the octopus.
“Yeah, it is, so give it to me.” Layla put her hand out.
Nakia pulled her hand back, holding her food close to her chest. “No. I’m not giving anything to you.”
Layla’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Nakia. “You do realize I can kill you, right?” She pulled a dagger from her ankle. Naren grunted as she shifted slightly, but he was fine when she settled again.
Nakia scoffed. “You won’t.”
This was true. Layla knew better than to kill the person they were holding for a large amount of gold and Nakia knew that. Maybe Nakia also understood the ‘day of peace’ thing they kept talking about. Ashni was impressed and then Nakia kept talking.
“She won’t let you.” Nakia pointed to Ashni with her free hand. This was also true, but it hit Ashni strangely. She felt some pride swell in her over the idea that Nakia trusted her to protect her from everyone, including her sister.
Layla’s gaze narrowed more. “It’s bad enough you dare to wear pearls today, but now you’re going to defy me, too? You think Ashni could stop me if I wanted to get you? She’s too drunk to do anything.”
“I’m no more drunk than anyone else,” Ashni said.
Layla ignored her, keeping her focus on Nakia. “Gimme the food.”
Nakia stuck her chin in the air. “No.”
“Hey, you either eat it or I will,” Ashni said. She was partial to fried octopus. It wasn’t a food they often had around these parts.
They both huffed, but Nakia put the food to her mouth and nibbled. Her eyes lit up for a moment and Ashni delighted in the look. Nakia took several bites and Ashni watched, finding it far more fascinating than any show they saw that night.
“Hey! You don’t go looking at girls’ mouths like that,” Adira barked, glaring at Ashni from across the group.
Ashni tried her best to throw Adira a rude gesture, but found her fingers weren’t working the way she wanted them to. I must be drunker than I thought. It didn’t matter, anyway. Adira’s eyes were more interested in Saniyah’s cleavage than anything else, so she barely spent a second glowering at Ashni. I’m not the only who is drunker than usual. Of course, it didn’t take much wine for Adira to openly leer at her spouse, but it took a lot to make Adira ready to jump on Saniyah with an audience in view.
Warrior Class - Sky Cutter Page 15